A list of the NFL's safety rules regarding QBs

Updated 11:32 am, Friday, August 28, 2015

If Chip Kelly, Pete Carroll and other NFL coaches want to run zone-read plays, their quarterbacks are fair game — even when they don't have the ball.

The league's competition committee has made it clear quarterbacks won't get special protection until they establish a passing posture. The rules aren't changing this year despite concerns that arose after Terrell Suggs was penalized for tackling Sam Bradford's knees on a handoff in a Ravens-Eagles game last Saturday.

Dean Blandino, the league's vice president of officiating, declared Suggs' hit was legal because Bradford was considered a runner until he clearly didn't have the football or positioned himself to pass.

On a zone-read play, the quarterback sticks the ball in a running back's stomach and either gives it to him or pulls it back and runs depending on the defense's reaction. Suggs was assigned the quarterback on the play, so he ignored ball carrier Darren Sproles and went straight for Bradford.

The NFL rules applicable to the quarterback as a runner include:

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When a quarterback runs an option and keeps the ball, he is a runner. He has none of the special protections given to a passer. Normal unnecessary roughness rules apply.

It does not matter whether he is in or outside the pocket area.

If the quarterback on an option pitches the ball to a player, his only protection before or after the pitch is that provided under normal unnecessary roughness rules. He does not receive any of the special protections granted to a player who throws a forward pass while on the run. The player who receives the pitch does not have any special "defenseless player" protection.

When the passer goes outside the pocket area and either continues moving with the ball (without attempting to advance the ball as a runner) or throws while on the run, he loses the protection of the one-step rule and the protection against a low hit, but retains the other special protections afforded to a passer in the pocket. If a quarterback attempts to advance the ball as a runner, he loses all of the special protections of the roughing-the-passer rule. However, if he throws while on the run, he regains all the special protections except the one-step rule and low hit rule. If he clearly establishes a passing posture, he is covered by all of the special protections for passers. less

When the passer goes outside the pocket area and either continues moving with the ball (without attempting to advance the ball as a runner) or throws while on the run, he loses the protection of the one-step ... more

Photo: George Gelatly, Getty Images

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When a quarterback retreats to pass, but brings the ball down and begins to advance as a runner, he no longer has roughing-the-passer protection, even when his path of advance is within the pocket.

When a quarterback retreats to pass, but brings the ball down and begins to advance as a runner, he no longer has roughing-the-passer protection, even when his path of advance is within the pocket.

Photo: Vic Stein, Getty Images

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When a quarterback retreats to pass, and moves in an attempt to avoid the pass rush, even if he is moving forward in the pocket he has roughing-the-passer protection until he clearly becomes a runner.

When a quarterback retreats to pass, and moves in an attempt to avoid the pass rush, even if he is moving forward in the pocket he has roughing-the-passer protection until he clearly becomes a runner.

Photo: Kidwiler Collection, Getty Images

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When a quarterback hands off to a teammate and carries out his fake, his only protection is normal unnecessary roughness rules. Helmet-to-helmet contact is not necessarily illegal.

When a quarterback hands off to a teammate and carries out his fake, his only protection is normal unnecessary roughness rules. Helmet-to-helmet contact is not necessarily illegal.

Photo: George Gelatly, Getty Images

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If a defensive player is blocked or fouled into the quarterback and violates any of the roughing-the-passer rules, it is not a foul unless the contact is avoidable. This is the same standard that applies for low hits. less

If a defensive player is blocked or fouled into the quarterback and violates any of the roughing-the-passer rules, it is not a foul unless the contact is avoidable. This is the same standard that applies for ... more

Photo: Underwood Archives, Getty Images

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A receiver who is attempting to catch a swing pass is a "defenseless player," whether the pass is forward or backward. This also applies to screen passes.

A receiver who is attempting to catch a swing pass is a "defenseless player," whether the pass is forward or backward. This also applies to screen passes.